Meet Our Cast

Brian Fimoff (Dusoleil) is pleased to be making his Black Button Eyes debut with this terrific cast and team. Favorite roles include Aaron in First Date and Darren in Next Thing You Know (Towle Theatre), Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Summer Opera), and the Balladeer/Oswald in Assassins (ATC Repertory). Other recent credits: bare: a pop opera (Another Door Theatre); The Producers, Victor/Victoria, and Mary Poppins (NightBlue). Brian is also a former Yale Whiffenpoof. Thanks to Kip and Stacy!

Emily Goldberg (Isabelle) is excited to make her Black Button Eyes debut with this magical show. Recent Chicago credits include: Schoolhouse Rock Live (Emerald City Theatre), Dogfight (BoHo Theatre), Loving Repeating (Kokandy Productions); City of Angels (Porchlight); One Came Home (Lifeline); Sisters of Swing (Fox Valley Rep); Alice In Wonderland (Marriott); Oliver (Light Opera Works); and Evita (Jedlicka). Emily received her BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. emilygoldbergchicago.com

Scott Gryder (Bertrand, News Vendor, Lawyer) Cabaret performances include Boys In Briefs: At the Beach! (Pride Films & Plays), SIMPLY SCOTTY with Freddie The Puppet & Nick Sula, WOZ: A Rock Cabaret (director/Wizard), and Life Is A Cabaret! The Words and Music of Kander & Ebb. Theatre roles include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip Tolentino) James Lapine, director; Thrill Me (Nathan Leopold); and South Pacific (Quale/Ensemble). Scott received three National Daytime Emmy Awards for national children’s television show Green Screen Adventures. Scott’s debut album Pure Imagination is available on iTunes. www.thescottgryder.com

Matt McNabb (Doctor, Policeman)is overjoyed to be part of Amour! Previous Chicago credits include: Sweeney Todd, A Catered Affair, By Popular Demand: Team Edition (Porchlight Music Theatre), Myths and Hymns (BoHo), CATS (Jeff Nomination), Some Enchanted Evening (Theo Ubique), Amahl and the Night Visitors (Main Street Opera), The Drowsy Chaperone, Side Man, Christmas Carol (Metropolis). Matt also performs at Davenports. Milwaukee credits: Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Sunset Playhouse, Rhode Center. Matt is a composer and has received raves for his opera More Coffee, Less White Trash. Matt is also a teaching artist with Chicago Opera Theatre. Huge thanks to Ed and Nick!

Mikaela Sullivan (Madeleine) completed her Master of Music at West Virginia University. Hailing from Normal, Illinois, she received her Bachelor of Music from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. Past roles include the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas, Munkustrap in CATS!, Lady Psyche in Princess Ida and Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Mikaela premiered Cody Kauhl's Excursus – Three Art Songs for Soprano and Flexible Media in 2014, and has since performed the piece at the International Computer Music Conference and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Hot Air Music Festival.

Tommy Thurston (Painter) is so excited to be making his Black Button Eyes Productions debut, being a part of such a magical story to tell! Recent Chicago credits include: Far From Heaven, and William Desmond Taylor in Mack & Mabel (Porchlight Music Theatre), Bob Cratchit in Alan Menken’s A Christmas Carol (Quest Theatre), Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde the Musical (Big Noise), Songs From An Unmade Bed (Pride Films & Plays), The Cat in The Cat in the Hat (Broadway in Chicago), Prince Brian in Rapunzel (Emerald City). Lots of love to mom, dad, brother Zach, and Ryan for their support.

Kevin Webb (Boss, Policeman) is thrilled to be returning to Black Button Eyes since his performance as the cat in Coraline in 2014. He is also a member of the Pride Films and Plays' ensemble and has been featured in their productions of Bite: A Pucking Queer Cabaret, Songs from an Unmade Bed (Jeff nomination - actor in a principal role), Under A Rainbow Flag, Angry Fags and Design for Living. Other recent credits include: The Secret Garden (Court Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Porchlight), The Duchess of Malfi (Trap Door), The Pitchfork Disney (Interrobang), Myths and Hymns (BoHo), Waking Lazarus (Prologue), Stupid Fucking Bird (Sideshow), WOZ. kevinwebb.org

Greg Zawada (Prosecutor) is overjoyed to be joining Black Button Eyes for this Chicago premiere. Other recent credits include Babes in Arms (Gus) and A Funny Thing...Forum (Miles Gloriosus) with Porchlight, “TR” in Tintypes (Open Door Rep), "Professor" in South Pacific, and “Pedro” in Man of La Mancha (Light Opera Works). Greg is a student of Rebecca Schorsch. Much appreciation to Mom, Dad, and Eej for all their support and love. www.gregzawada.com

Understudies

Ryan Lanning (Understudy: Dusoleil, Bertrand/News Vendor/Lawyer, Painter) is thrilled to be working with Black Button Eyes, where he was last seen as Other Mother in Coraline. Other Chicago credits include: Sammy The Writer in F**king Men, Jackie in The Wild Party (Bailiwick Chicago); Male Swing in Candide (GoodmanTheatre); Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Haven Theatre); Molina in Kiss of the Spider Woman (Bailiwick Repertory).

Melissa Reinertson (Understudy: Isabelle, Madeleine, Claire, Whore) moved from San Francisco to the Windy City in January 2016. She was previously seen in The Producers (Ulla u/s, Ensemble) at the Mercury Theater Chicago. California credits include: Scrooge in Love! (Belle, opposite Jason Graae), LIZZIE (Bridget Sullivan, SFBATCC Nomination), Urinetown (Hope Cladwell), 110 in the Shade (Lizzie Curry), Cabaret (Fräulein Kost, Fritzie), Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitel), Meet Me In St. Louis (Rose Smith). She has studied Acting & Shakespeare at American Conservatory Theater, and graduated from UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film, & Television with a B.A. in Musical Theatre. www.melissareinertson.com